CIP recommends spending $141,000 for special requests

The Capital Improvement Planning Committee met with selectmen and Advisory Board members on January 22 to make its recommendations on capital spending requests for the FY2008 budget.

CIP member James O'Coin said the number one item is the Thomas Prince School roof replacement. The cost estimate is unknown and potentially significant, he said. Paying for the repair or replacement could be done through borrowing or a debt exclusion. Town officials are working with the Wachusett District to determine what needs to be done to the roof, with a proposal due in the spring.

CIP members suggested waiting until the Advanced Life Support Ambulance Study Committee completes its work before deciding how and when to replace the existing ambulance at a cost of $165,000.

The committee recommended spending $45,000 to replace a 1997 highway department truck with a rotted-out frame.

If officials go forward with a library request for exterior renovation of the building at an estimated cost of $224,363, CIP members recommended a five-year borrowing along with any grants the town may be able to obtain. Town Administrator Dennis Rindone said representatives from the library will give an update about the exterior renovation in February.

CIP members suggested that a request for $60,000 by the Open Space Land Committee for an "Open Space Acquisition Savings Program" be integrated into the final Master Plan before any action is taken.

The committee supported a police department request for $10,500 for a one-year lease purchase of a new cruiser. It also supports the request for $350,000 by the road advisory committee. Selectmen will include that in the FY08 budget and fund it to the degree possible once they have all budget information.

Ongoing environmental cleanup for the public safety building at $5,000 and the former landfill at $2,000 are mandated expenses. The committee supports the request for $20,000 for ongoing town building maintenance, $11,000 for grounds maintenance, $10,000 for the town's 250th anniversary celebration, $7,500 for phase two of the GIS mapping project, $5,000 for an employee compensation and classification plan update and $25,000 for the emergency generator for the Thomas Prince School shelter.

These CIP FY08 recommendations total $141,000 against an available free cash balance of $141,000.

"Obviously there are more requests than there is money available," said Rindone. Officials have decided to put the road money request in the budget as a line item rather than as a special article so it won't have to stand by itself. Right now the full amount is integrated into the budget, said Rindone, but town officials don't know how much it will actually be.

"The huge unknown is the revenue from the state and the school budget," said Select Board Chairman Alan Sentkowski.